RESTORATION PROJECT
Assemblymember views stream enhancement effort
On July 13, Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-healdsburg) visited a California Conservation Corps (CCC) stream enhancement project in the North Fork Noyo River watershed to view the restoration work currently underway. The project is taking place on private timber land owned by and with permission from Mendocino Redwood Company (MRC).
Since MRC purchased the timber land, they have partnered with the CCC on many projects to enhance streams for fish habitat on their property, a partnership that has had a positive environmental impact, especially for endangered and threatened native fish species in Mendocino County.
The stream enhancement project Wood recently visited was designed by CCC Fish Habitat Specialist Brett Leonard and Fish Habitat Assistant Tyler Cadwell. It was funded by California Department of Fish and Wildlife's (CDFW) Fisheries Restoration Grant Program. A crew of 14 Corpsmembers, led by Crew Supervisor Erik Weinmeister, began working on the project June 15.
The project goal is to improve habitat for Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed endangered coho salmon and threatened steelhead trout. Leonard explained crews are, “placing large wood into the stream channel, building habitat features to improve stream function and habitat complexity on a tributary to the North Fork Noyo River.”
Historical land use practices have resulted in oversimplified stream channels where logs had been removed from the stream, and adding wood helps to recreate natural stream habitat conditions.
The corpsmembers received classroom and infield training before beginning the restoration work. They go on what is referred to as “spike,” where they spend eight days working and camping at the project site, then get six days off. They will continue work on the project utilizing the “spike” schedule through the end of October.
In order to place the wood in the stream, corpsmembers use a system of pulleys, hand power grip hoists and wire rope rigging to maneuver logs through the forest with minimal disturbance to the forest floor.
Assemblymember Wood pointed out how the project not only benefits the environment and local ecosystem, but also the young adults on the CCC crew. After his visit to the North Fork Noyo salmon restoration project, he said, ”I am continually impressed and amazed with the work that these young people do in the CCC.”
Wood continued, “This project is really important, and it's hard, hard work. We should all be grateful for their interest in making progress on these restoration projects. Their work experience may take them onto a meaningful career path that will benefit all of us, protecting our streams and watersheds, endangered salmon populations as well as other work they do in wildfire prevention and firefighting, trail construction and emergency response.”
Region 1 Deputy Director Jarred Patton echoed a similar sentiment. He stated, “Habitat restoration projects like this are how the CCC is protecting California's natural resources while giving young adults both the paid training and the work experience to launch careers focused on keeping our rivers and creeks flowing and our forests thriving.”
CCC Crew Supervisor Weinmeister said of Wood's project site visit, “Having an assemblymember visit really drove home the fact that what we are doing is important and urgent. Corpsmembers get a huge amount of satisfaction from being on the front line of salmon habitat restoration.”
He went on to say that it is a privilege to watch the young adults not only achieve but excel at what at first seems impossible when starting to tackle a salmon restoration project. Through the course of the project, corspmembers will move large redwood tree logs and transform streams into beautiful and breathtaking ecosystems more conducive to native fish survival.
“I am continually impressed and amazed with the work that these young people do in the CCC.” — Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-healdsburg)